Level.



E. A.; KING.

LEVEL.

APPLlcATmN FILED MAY2.1917.

Patented Sept. 25, 1917e LLQQD l SATE enr.

ERNEST A. KING, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY DISSION @c SONS, INCORPORATED, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

LEVEL.

I Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 25, 1917.,

Application led May 2, 1917. Serial No. 165,927.

To all 'whom t may concern:

' Be it known that I, ERNEST A. KING, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Levels, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide means for readily adjusting the frame carrying the glass tube of a level so that it can be adjusted without dismantling the parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a frame with two tubes and with means for independently adjusting each fork of the frame and thus independently adjusting the bubble in each tube.

The invention also relates to certain details of construction whichy will be fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved level;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the level on the line 2 2, Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the frame in which the glass tubes are mounted;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the glass plates inclosing the frame; and

Fig. 6 is a detached perspective View of the adjusting means.

Referring to the drawings, l is the ordinary wooden body portion of the level having an opening 2 at or near the center. This lopening is reduced at one side to form a shoulder 3 on which rests the frame 4 carrying the two tubes 5 and 6. This frame is secured to the body portion by a headed screw 7, which enters the wooden body portion at the shoulder 3, the wood being cut away to receive the projecting portion 4iL of the frame. The frame is split at 8 forming two forks, and one of the glass tubes is mounted in one fork and the other glass tube is mounted in the other fork. The frame is circular in form and the tubes extend across the open center of the frame, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The frame is reduced in thickness at top and bottom, and at 9 a flat shoulder is formed which has a threaded opening 10 therein to receive an adjusting screw l1. The screws extend to each side of the level and the head l2 of each screw is mounted on a washer 13 and a clamp plate 14 is located in a recess 15 in the edge of the body portion, as clearly shown in Figs. 14

and The clamp plate 14 has a central opening' therein, having beveled walls which iit the beveled, or rounded, head 12 of the screw 1l. The clamp 14 is held by screws 16, which enter the wood ofthe body portion so that the adjusting screw can be readily held after adjustment. The screw, however, can be turned' to adjust one of the forks of the frame 4 without removing the clamp plate 14. The adjusting mechanism is inclosed by a plate 17 adapted to a recess in the edge of the body portion and held by screws 18. There is one of these adjusting devices at each edge of the level. One controls the movement of one fork of the frame and the other controls the movement of the other fork of the-frame.

I preferably inclose the opening in which the frame 4 is mounted by two frames 19, one located in each side. Each frame has a flange 2O secured to the body portion by screws, or other fastenings. Each frame has an extension 21, and between a flanged ring 22 and this extension is a glass disk 23. I preferably locate cement and other suitable material between the metal portions of the frame and the glass so as to make it waterproof and to allow for any expansion or contraction without the liability of breaking the glass.

It will be noticed that one of the glass tubes is curved in one direction and that the other is curved in the opposite direction so that when the level is used on one edge, the bubble in one tube will indicate whether or not the device is level, and, if the level be turned on the other edge, the bubble in the other tube will indicate the level.

By the above arrangement, the parts can be readily made and assembled and after being assembled they can be adjusted to make them accurate and in the event of a bubble in one of the tubes not indicating the level, a slight adjustment can be made without dismantling the frame in which the tubes are mounted.

It will be understood that the adjusting means shown may-be used in connection with a plumb, as well as a level, without departigig from the essential features of the invention.

I claim:

1. The combination in a level, of a body portion havingl an opening therein; a forked sol frame mounted in the opening; a glass tube carried by each fork of the frame; and means for independently adjusting each fork of the frame.

2. The combination of a body portion having an opening therein; a frame mounted in the opening; means for securing the frame in the body portion, said frame having two curved forks; a tube mounted in each fork; and means for independently adj listing each of said forks.

3. The combination of a body portion having an opening therein; a frame mounted in the body portion; said frame having two forks; a tube mounted in each fork; a screw adapted to a threaded opening in each `fork of the frame, the head of one screw being at one edge of the body portion and the head of the other screw being at the opposite edge of 'the body portion; and means for retaining the screws in a fixed position in respect to the body portion so that, when the screws are turned, the forks of the frame will be adjusted. v

y4. The' combination of a body portion having an Opening therein; a frame ,mounted in the openingl and secured atone edge to the body portion; a glass tube carried Vby the frame; a headed screw extending into avthreaded opening in the frame; aclamp plate having a tapered lopening therein through which the end of the screw is eX- posed; and means for tightening the clamp plate, the .screw being capable of being adjusted without removing the clamp plate.

5.',The combination. of a body portion having 'anopening' therein; a frame mounted in the opening and secured to the body yportion at one edge, the opposite end of Aclamp plate between which the head of the screw is mounted; and means for adjustably securing the clamp plate to the body p0rtion so as to prevent the screw from turning after adjustment.

6. The combination in a level, of a body portion having an opening; a central frame mounted in the opening; a glass tube carried bythe central frame; two frames independent of the central frame, one frame being mounted on each side of the body portion and extending into the opening; a glass disk mounted in each frame; and means for securing the disk to the said frame, whereby either frame and its glass disk can be removed without disturbing the central frame.

7. The combination of a body portion having a shouldered opening therein extending `from one sideof the body portion ,to the other; a glazed lframe extending into the opening at each side and secured to the body portion; a yforked frame resting on the shoulder and secured vto the body` por-- tion at one side and free to move at the opposite side; an adjusting screw engaging each fork of the frame and extending toward each edge of the body portion; a plate; and a washer 'mounted in a recess in the edge of the frame and arranged to clamp the head of eachscrew; and a cover plate for closing the recess. t

In witness whereo'f aflix my signature.

ERNEST A. KING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained foi` yfive cents each, by addressing' the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. CJ 

